Last call unmoved

Lauderhill denies applicant’s request to sell liquor until 4 a.m.

Lauderhill city officials have turned down a request by a strip club to let it serve alcohol until 4 a.m.

The City Commission voted unanimously to deny a petition filed by the owner of Vegas Cabaret. The increase in the number of police calls and disturbances since the new management took over in May 2013 was one of the primary reasons for denial.

Vegas Cabaret operates every day until 4 a.m., but city law prohibits it, as well as other alcoholic beverage establishments, from serving alcohol Monday through Saturday from 2 to 7 a.m. and Sunday from 2 a.m. to noon. The city enacted a law in 2010 allowing businesses to apply for exceptions, but so far, the commission has rejected all six applications it received.

Security at the strip club has been increased, said Daniel Aaronson, the attorney representing the applicant.

“We had 12 security people; we have beefed that up to 15. We have an armed guard and have hired a new security firm. We are willing to go that extra mile,” he said.

Goldfinger Gentlemen’s Club in Sunrise operates with alcohol sales until 4 a.m. Jeff Levy, owner of World Consulting and Lobbying Group, sought a level playing field with the business, but city officials were unmoved.

Police were called 329 times to the business from May 2013 to April 27 this year. Of the 172 calls between May 1, 2013, and April 30, 2014, 107 were between 2 and 7 a.m.

“Some of them have been shootings, stabbings, very violent in nature,” said Police Chief Andrew Smalling. “There have been fights, felony arrests.”